Phenolic compounds in wholegrain rye and its fractions

Rye (Secale cereale L.) has traditionally had an important role in the daily diet especially in Northern and Eastern Europe, and in addition to dietary fibre, rye grain is a good source of various phytochemicals in our diet. The focus of the present work was to find out how various phenolic compounds are distributed in rye grain fractions prepared by air-classification, and compare rye brans produced by different separation techniques (sieving or air classification). Of the phenolic compounds, phenolic acids were analyzed as organic solvent soluble (OSS) free, esterified and glycosylated residues, organic solvent in-soluble (OSI) esterified and etherified residues and OSI ferulic acid esterified to water extractable fibre. In addition alkylresorcinols, flavonoids, hydroxamic acid DIBOA (2,4-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one), flavonoids and lignans were analyzed. Based on the determined concentrations, alkylresorcinols formed the most dominant group of OSS phenolic compounds in rye and its fractions, followed by smaller amounts of OSS esterified phenolic acids and hydroxamic acid DIBOA. In wholegrain rye and rye fractions, the major part (86–92%) of the total amount of phenolic acids was present as OSI-form bound to the fibre complex either via ester or β-aryl ether bonds. All of the analyzed phenolic compound groups were enriched in the bran fraction, which encourages usage of this part of rye grain in foods. The content and profile of phenolic compounds did not differ much between the two differently produced rye brans.     

渗漉法提取五味子的工艺研究

目的筛选渗漉法提取五味子中木脂素的最佳工艺。方法用正交实验设计,以乙醇浓度、浸泡时间、渗漉速度、收集渗漉液体积和为因素,用分光光度计对五味子中木脂素进行测定,以五味子甲素为评价指标优化提取工艺。结果与结论五味子的最佳提取工艺为80%乙醇浸泡24h渗漉速度为6mL/kg.min,收集8倍的渗漉液。     

体内木酚素水平影响糖尿病肾病患者病程的机制研究

目的：观察糖尿病肾病患者体内木酚素代谢物尿肠内酯及血浆中丙二醛（MDA）、血清超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、血清过氧化氢酶（GSH-Px）的变化,探寻木酚素影响糖尿病肾病患者病程的可能机制。方法采用病例对照研究的方法,选择出82例糖尿病患者。根据尿微量白蛋白排泄率值分为：糖尿病肾病组（尿微量白蛋白排泄率≥20μg/min,n＝41）;糖尿病无肾病组（尿微量白蛋白排泄率＜20μg/min, n＝41）;另外选择正常对照组30例（尿微量白蛋白排泄率＜20μg/min,n＝30）。比较各组人群尿肠内酯的水平、尿微量白蛋白排泄率、血浆MDA、血清SOD及血清GSH-Px的水平。结果与正常对照组相比,糖尿病患者的尿肠内酯水平和血清SOD、GSH-Px活性明显降低（P＜0.05）,且糖尿病肾病患者的尿肠内酯水平和血清SOD、GSH-Px活性显著低于糖尿病无肾病组（P＜0.05）;糖尿病患者的尿肠内酯水平与尿微量白蛋白排泄率及血浆 MDA 含量等呈负相关,相关系数分别-0.763和-0.708（P＜0.05）,与血清超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶活性等指标呈正相关,相关系数分别为0.695和0.776（P＜0.05）。结论糖尿病肾病患者尿肠内酯水平低下,反映出体内木酚素水平低与糖尿病肾脏病变的发生发展相关,其机制涉及氧化应激过程。     

The antitumor lignan Nortrachelogenin sensitizes prostate cancer cells to TRAIL-induced cell death by inhibition of the Akt pathway and growth factor signaling

Prostate cancer cells frequently develop resistance toward androgen-deprivation and chemotherapy. To identify new approaches to treat androgen-dependent prostate cancer, we have performed a structure–activity analysis of lignan polyphenols for cancer cell specific sensitization to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a death ligand that has ability to induce tumor-specific cell death. In this study, we report that the lignan nortrachelogenin (NTG) is the most efficient of the 27 tested lignan compounds in sensitizing prostate cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Importantly, pretreatment with NTG does not sensitize a non-malignant prostate cell line to TRAIL-induced cell death. The structural comparison of lignans reveals that the dibenzylbutyrolactone skeleton is required for the apoptosis-sensitizing activity, while substitutions at the aromatic rings do not seem to play a critical role in this lignan function. Our study also characterizes the cellular effects and molecular mechanisms involved in NTG anticancer activity. We previously reported that specific lignans inhibit the Akt survival-signaling pathway in concert with TRAIL sensitization. While NTG is also shown to be a effective inhibitor of Akt signaling, in this study we further demonstrate that NTG potently inhibits tyrosine kinase (RTK) activation in response to growth factors, such as insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Our results identify NTG as a novel agent for prostate cancer therapy with ability to inhibit Akt membrane localization and activity as well as the activation of growth factor receptors (GFRs), thereby efficiently synergizing with TRAIL exposure.     

The DietCompLyf study: A prospective cohort study of breast cancer survival and phytoestrogen consumption

DietCompLyf is a multi-centre prospective study designed to investigate associations between phytoestrogens – naturally occurring plant compounds with oestrogenic properties – and other diet and lifestyle factors with breast cancer recurrence and survival. 3159 women with grades I–III breast cancer were recruited 9–15 months post-diagnosis from 56 UK hospitals. Detailed information on clinico-pathological, diet, lifestyle and quality of life is collected annually up to 5 years. Biological samples have also been collected as a resource for subsequent evaluation. The characteristics of the patients and associations between pre-diagnosis intake of phytoestrogens (isoflavones and lignans; assessed using the EPIC-Norfolk UK 130 question food frequency questionnaire) and breast cancer (i) risk factors and (ii) prognostic factors are described for 1797 women who had complete data for all covariates and phytoestrogens of interest. Isoflavone intakes were higher in the patients who were younger at diagnosis, in the non-smokers, those who had breast-fed and those who took supplements. Lignan intakes were higher in patients with a higher age at diagnosis, in ex-smokers, those who had breast-fed, who took supplements, had a lower BMI at diagnosis, lower age at menarche and were nulliparous. No significant associations between pre-diagnosis phytoestrogen intake and factors associated with improved breast cancer prognosis were observed. The potential for further exploration of the relationship between phytoestrogens and breast cancer recurrence and survival, and for the establishment of evidence to improve dietary and lifestyle advice offered to patients following breast cancer diagnosis using DietCompLyf data is discussed.     

Antioxidant lipoxygenase inhibitors from the leaf extracts of Simmondsia chinensis

ObjectiveTo isolate and identify chemical constituents with antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory effects of the ethanolic extract of Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) leaves.MethodsThe alcoholic extract was subjected to successive solvent fractionation. The antioxidant active fractions (chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions) were subjected to a combination of different chromatographic techniques guided by the antioxidant assay with DPPH. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidences and correlated with known compounds. The antioxidant activity was assessed quantitively using DPPH and β-carotene methods. The inhibitory potential against enzyme lipoxygenase was assessed on soybean lipoxygenase enzyme.ResultsTen flavonoids and four lignans were isolated. Flavonoid aglycones showed stronger antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory effects than their glycosides. Lignoid glycosides showed moderate to weak antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory effects.ConclusionsA total of 14 compounds were isolated and identified from Simmondsia chinensis; 12 of them were isolated for the first time. This is the first report that highlights deeply on the phenolic content of jojoba and their potential biological activities and shows the importance of this plant as a good source of phenolics in particular the flavonoid content.     

Phytoestrogens and phytoestrogen metabolites differentially modulate immune parameters in human leukocytes

Phytoestrogens (PE) including isoflavones and lignans, are a group of substances of plant origin which can act as estrogen agonists or antagonists. While the immunomodulatory effects of isoflavones have been studied, little is known about the impact of lignans and other PE metabolites on the immune system. The aim of the present study was to assess whether PE and their metabolites modulate human leukocyte functions in vitro. We investigated the effects of genistein, daidzein, matairesinol, and secoisolariciresinol, including metabolites such as equol, O-desmethylangolensin, enterodiol, and enterolactone on natural killer cell activity, proliferation, cytokine secretion, as well as apoptotic and necrotic rate of human leukocytes. Genistein, daidzein, and its metabolite equol were the most potent inhibitors of leukocyte functions. Ten micromolars of genistein decreased proliferation, lytic activity of natural killer cells, and cytokine secretions. The latter proved to be the most sensitive marker of immune functions. Lignans and their metabolites had minor effects on the immune system. The antiestrogens Tamoxifen and Fulvestrant did not block the inhibition of cytokine secretion by genistein and equol. In conclusion, while physiological concentrations of isoflavones have minor effects on cytokine secretion, lignans including their major metabolites do not modulate human leukocyte functions in vitro.     

生脉饮检验方法的探讨

本文用 TLC 检测人参中皂甙,以各种人参皂甙单体 Rb_2、Re、Rd、Rg_1、Rg_3、Rh_1作标样进行鉴别,并以人参皂甙 Re 纯品作对照,用扫描法进行人参总皂甙含量测定。用 TLC 鉴别五味子中木脂体,以五味子乙素、醇乙作标样。用 HPLC 鉴别麦冬成分,以生药麦冬作对照。本文提供的方法用于生脉饮质量控制效果良好。     

五味子总木脂素对阿尔茨海默病模型大鼠记忆障碍的影响

目的 观察五味子总木脂素分离纯化方法及其对阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)模型大鼠记忆障碍的影响,探讨其作用机制.方法 采用随机数字表法将大鼠分为空白对照组、假手术组、模型组、五味子低剂量组、五味子高剂量组,每组15只.模型组、五味子低剂量组、五味子高剂量组采用腹腔注射D-半乳糖50mg/kg复合Aβ海马定位注射制作AD大鼠模型.造模后3d开始给药.五味子低、高剂量组分别灌胃五味子总木脂素50、100mg/kg,空白对照组、假手术组和模型组灌胃等体积生理盐水.1次/d,连续给药2周后进行水迷宫实验.行为学测试结束后,采用RT-PCR法测定各组大鼠海马组织中caspase-3、Bcl-2相关X蛋白(Bcl-2 associated X protein,Bax)、Bcl-2 mRNA表达.结果 与模型组比较,五味子低、高剂量组逃避潜伏期缩短(P<0.05),穿越平台次数[(3.82±1.23)次、(5.82±1.18)次比(2.13±1.48)次]、游泳时间百分比[(39.43±7.12)%、(48.63±7.15)%比(59.98±6.13)%]增加(P<0.05);五味子低、高剂量组caspase-3[(6.11±1.25)、(4.42±1.13)比(7.88±1.28)]、Bax mRNA[(5.84±1.62)、(4.63±1.51)比(7.54±2.14)]表达降低,Bcl-2mRNA[(1.73±0.82)、(3.04±1.29)比(0.93±0.62)]表达升高(P<0.05).结论 硅藻土-索式提取法适用于五味子总木脂素的分离纯化,五味子总木脂素可上调Bcl-2表达,降低caspase-3和Bax表达,抑制Aβ所致的神经元细胞凋亡,改善AD动物模型记忆障碍,且干预效果呈剂量依赖性.